Not everyone can use the combined pill so your doctor or nurse will need to ask you about your own and your family’s medical history. Do mention any illness or operations you’ve had. Some of the conditions which may mean you shouldn’t use the combined pill are:

you think you might already be pregnant

you smoke and are 35 years old or over

you’re 35 years old or over and stopped smoking less than a year ago

you’re very overweight

you take certain medicines

you’re breastfeeding a baby less than 6 weeks old.

You have now or had in the past:

thrombosis (blood clots) in any vein or artery or a member of your immediate family had thrombosis before they were 45 years old

The pill can have some serious side effects, but these aren’t common. For most people the benefits of the pill outweigh the possible risks. All risks and benefits should be discussed with your doctor or nurse.

A very small number of pill users may develop venous thrombosis, arterial thrombosis, heart attack or stroke. If you’ve ever had thrombosis, you should not use the pill. Some types of pill appear to be associated with a slightly higher risk of venous thrombosis.

The risk of venous thrombosis is greatest during the first year that you take the pill and if any of the following apply to you: you smoke, you’re very overweight, are immobile for a long period of time or use a wheelchair, or a member of your immediate family had venous thrombosis before they were 45 years old.

The risk of arterial thrombosis is greatest if any of the following apply to you: you smoke, are diabetic, have hypertension, are very overweight, have migraines with aura, or a member of your immediate family had a heart attack or stroke before they were 45 years old.

Research suggests that users of the pill appear to have a small increased risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer compared to non-users of hormonal contraception, which reduces with time after stopping the pill.

Research suggests that there’s a small increase in the risk of developing cervical cancer with longer use of estrogen and progestogen hormonal contraception.

See a doctor straightaway if you have any of the following:

pain in the chest, including any sharp pain which is worse when you breathe in

breathlessness

you cough up blood

painful swelling in your leg(s)

weakness, numbness, or bad 'pins and needles' in an arm or leg

severe stomach pains

a bad fainting attack or you collapse

unusual headaches or migraines that are worse than usual

sudden problems with your speech or eyesight

jaundice (yellowing skin or yellowing eyes).

If you go into hospital for an operation or have an accident which affects the movement of your legs, tell the doctor you’re taking the combined pill. You may need to stop taking the pill or need other treatment to reduce the risk of developing thrombosis.

Are all combined pills the same?

No, there are three main types of pills and many different brands. They are taken differently.

Monophasic 21 day pills – This is the most common type of pill. Each pill has the same amount of hormone in it. You take one a day for 21 days then no pills for the next seven days.

Phasic 21 day pills – These pills contain different amounts of hormone so you must take them in the right order. There are two or three sections of different coloured pills in the pack. You take one pill a day for 21 days then no pills for the next seven days.

EveryDay (ED) pills – There are 21 active pills and seven inactive pills which don’t contain any hormones (placebos). These look different to the active pills. You take one pill a day for 28 days with no break between packs. There are different types of EveryDay pills. Daylette, Eloine and Zoely are monophasic pills taken every day with 24 active pills and four inactive pills. Qlaira is a phasic pill taken every day with 26 active pills that contain different amounts of hormones and two inactive pills. Whichever type you take, you must take EveryDay pills in the right order.

How do I start the first pack of pills?

These instructions apply to most types of combined pill. You can start the pill anytime in your menstrual cycle if you’re sure you’re not pregnant.

If you start the pill on the first day of your period you’ll be protected from pregnancy immediately.

However, if you have a short menstrual cycle with your period coming every 23 days or less, starting the pill as late as the fifth day may not provide you with immediate contraceptive protection because you may ovulate early in your menstrual cycle. Talk to your doctor or nurse about this and whether you need to use additional contraception.

If you start the pill at any other time in your menstrual cycle you’ll need to avoid sex or use additional contraception, such as condoms, for the first seven days of pill-taking (nine days for Qlaira).

How do I take the pill?

21 day pills Take your first pill from the bubble in the pack marked with the correct day of the week or the first pill of the first colour (phasic pills). Try to take it at the same time each day and take a pill every day until the pack is finished (21 days).

You then stop taking pills for seven days. During this week you get a bleed. You don’t have periods when you take the pill - you have a withdrawal bleed (which doesn’t always happen). It’s caused by you not taking hormones in the pill-free week.

Start your next pack on the eighth day (the same day of the week as you took your first pill). Do this whether or not you’re still bleeding.

EveryDay pills – Take the first pill from the section of the pack marked ‘start’ or the pill marked ‘one’ for Qlaira. This will be an active pill. Take a pill every day until the pack is finished (28 days). You must take the pills in the correct order and try to take them at the same time each day. Taking the pills in the wrong order could mean that you’re not protected from pregnancy.

During the days that you take the placebo pills you’ll get a withdrawal bleed. When you finish a pack you should start another pack the next day whether or not you’re still bleeding.

EveryDay pills come with sticky strips of paper with the days of the week marked on them. These help you keep track of your pill taking. Instructions in the pack will tell you how to use them.

How important is it that I take the pill at the same time?

The pill is designed to be taken every day. It’s very important that you take the pill each day as instructed. When taking your first pill, choose a convenient time. This can be any time of day. Taking a pill at the same time each day will help you to remember to take it regularly. You’ve ‘missed a pill’ if you take it more than 24 hours later than your chosen time. If you do miss any pill(s) the important thing is not to stop taking it.

Am I protected from pregnancy during the seven day break or the placebo week?

Yes. You're protected if:

you've taken all the pills correctly and

you start the next pack on time and

nothing else has happened that might make the pill less effective.

What should I do if I'm sick or have diarrhoea?

If you vomit within two hours of taking a pill, it won’t have been absorbed by your body. Take another pill as soon as you feel well enough. As long as you’re not sick again your contraception won’t be affected. Take your next pill at the normal time. If you continue to be sick, seek advice.

If you have very severe diarrhoea that continues for more than 24 hours, this may make the pill less effective. Keep taking your pill at the normal time, but treat each day that you have severe diarrhoea as if you’d missed a pill and follow the missed pill instructions in the What if I forget to take a pill or start my pack late? section.

What if I want to change to a different pill?

It’s easy to change from one pill to another. Talk to your doctor or nurse as you may need to miss out the break or placebo week or use additional contraception for a short time.

It’s more risky to start a pack late and miss more than one pill. This is because during the seven day break or placebo week your ovaries aren’t getting any effects from the pill. If you make the break or placebo week longer you may ovulate.

If you’re not sure what to do, continue to take your pill, use additional contraception, such as condoms, and seek advice.

What should I do if I want to stop taking the pill or try to get pregnant

Ideally, it’s easier to stop taking the pill at the end of the pack. If you don’t want to wait until the end of the pack seek advice because you can risk becoming pregnant if you’ve had sex recently. If you don’t want to become pregnant use another method of contraception as soon as you stop taking the last active pill. When you stop using the pill your fertility will return to normal. Don’t worry if your periods don’t start immediately. For some people it can take a few months.

If you want to try for a baby it’s advisable to wait for one natural period before trying to get pregnant. This means the pregnancy can be dated more accurately and you can start pre-pregnancy care such as taking folic acid and stopping smoking. Ask your doctor or nurse for advice. Don’t worry if you do get pregnant sooner, it won’t harm the baby.

I'm bleeding on days when I'm taking the pill, what should I do?

Bleeding is very common when you first start taking the pill and isn’t usually anything to worry about. It may take up to three months to settle down. It’s very important to keep taking the pills to the end of the pack, even if the bleeding is as heavy as your withdrawal bleed.

Bleeding may also be caused by not taking the pill correctly or by a sexually transmitted infection. If it carries on or starts after you’ve used the pill for some time, seek advice.

I didn't bleed in my pill-free week – am I pregnant?

If you took all your pills correctly and you didn’t vomit or take any other medicines which might have affected the pill, then it’s very unlikely you’re pregnant. Start your next pack at the right time. If you’re worried ask your doctor or nurse for advice, or do a pregnancy test. Taking the pill doesn’t affect a pregnancy test. Always take a test or speak to a health professional if you miss more than one bleed. If you do become pregnant, there’s no evidence to show that taking the combined pill harms the baby.

Can I miss out my withdrawal bleed?

Yes. This isn’t harmful. If you’re taking a monophasic pill (where all the pills are identical) you should start another pack straight away and miss out the pill-free break. With EveryDay pills, miss out the placebo tablets. It’s safe to take more than one pack of pills without taking the pill-free break or placebo tablets. If you’re taking a phasic pill (such as Qlaira), or want to extend or continuously take your pill, ask your doctor or nurse for advice.

Sometimes you do still get some bleeding. This is nothing to worry about. If you’ve taken your pills correctly, you’ll still be protected from pregnancy.

I've just had a baby. Can I use the pill?

You can start taking the pill 21 days after you give birth if you’re not breastfeeding. Starting on day 21 you’ll be protected from pregnancy straight away. If you start later than day 21, use additional contraception or avoid sex for seven days.

If you’re breastfeeding a baby less than six weeks old, taking the combined pill may affect your milk production. It’s usually recommended that you use a different method of contraception until six weeks after the birth.

Can I use the pill after a miscarriage or abortion?

You can start taking the combined pill immediately after a miscarriage or abortion. You’ll be protected from pregnancy straight away.

Will I put on weight if I take the pill?

Research hasn’t shown that the pill causes weight gain. You may find that your weight changes throughout your cycle due to fluid retention.

If I take other medicines will it affect my pill?

If you’re given medicines by a doctor, nurse or hospital always say you’re taking the combined pill.

Commonly used antibiotics don’t affect the pill.

Medicines such as some of those used to treat epilepsy, HIV and TB, and the complementary medicine St John’s Wort, may make it less effective. These types of drugs are called enzyme-inducers. If you take these medicines, talk to your doctor or nurse about how to take the pill - you may need to use a different method of contraception.

Should I give my body a break from the pill every few years or so?

No, you don’t need to take a break because the hormones don’t build up. There are no known benefits to your health or fertility from taking a break.

How often do I need to see a doctor or nurse?

When you first start the pill you’ll usually be given three months’ supply to see how it suits you. After that you should go back to the doctor or nurse to get new supplies and to have your blood pressure checked. If there are no problems, you can be given up to a year’s supply of the pill.

Resource(s)

This website can only give you general information about contraception. The information is based on evidence-guided research from the World Health Organization and The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. All methods of contraception come with a Patient Information Leaflet which provides detailed information about the method.